CRESTLINE - Five minutes before Monday evening's school board meeting at Crestline High School even began, the crowd was standing room only.

Nearly 50 people loaded into the school's library, with most of them there for one reason and one reason only — to show support for boys basketball coach Rob Lisle.

Lisle was informed he would not be recommended for renewal after leading the Bulldogs to an 11-12 record, the school's best since his own high school career, when the team won 14 in 1996-97. It also was only the sixth double-digit win total the Bulldogs have had in the past 60 years.

Steve Helbert was first to speak in the public forum and didn't hold back any emotions.

"I've coached for 37 years and all we've ever asked out of kids is come to practice, buy in, work hard, be a part of the program and get better," Helbert said. "You brought up three games he should've won, how many games should he have lost? Is that taken into consideration? Galion, two divisions up, but we beat them.

"I don't know what you're asking for. The man deserves to be sat down and say 'We didn't like this because you didn't play my kid enough,' be honest about what went on," he added.

Helbert coached current athletic director Matt Wade and said he would never have made this decision on his own without being coaxed.

"I feel bad you made a first-year athletic director ... he needs a job, he has a young kid ... he played for me, I know the character of him and I said when he took over, he's going to make things better and you're not giving him that chance," Helbert said. "Almost every kid here has said something positive ... I've coached too long to see somebody do their job and be evaluated by people with an agenda. If you can look yourself in the mirror in the morning ... and say I'm doing this because this guy couldn't coach — wow, you better change your mirror."

Jim Glauer coached the Bulldogs from 1975 to 1977 and is a member of the Crestline Hall of Fame. He also defended his alma mater's AD.

"I want to give kudos to Matt Wade ... the first time I met him, I knew he would get the job done and I have to follow up on what Mr. Helbert said, he will work," Glauner said. "I look on the website and notice the schedules are being updated for not only next year, but the year after and the year after. He has us into a league and the reason I'm saying this is he got put into a very bad position as a first-year athletic director. I feel he was guided by the board at the time of the evaluation."

Junior Ty Clark, who plays football, basketball and baseball, was next and voiced his opinion that the board and AD weren't thinking about the students when they made the decision.

"As I walk around town, I see signs that say 'support the levy' or 'support the children.' Right now, it doesn't seem like you're supporting us," Clark said. "We're a bunch of kids trying to get our coach back because without him we wouldn't be who we are today. I still feel we haven't gotten an answer as to why you don't want him back. We've improved each year and there's no reason for Rob Lisle not to be back."

More hall of fame members spoke out after board members attempted to close the public forum.

Then board member Jeff Wilhite spoke out to explain the issue couldn't go to a vote and there was nothing the board could do at the moment.

"We heard everything you guys have to say two meetings in a row, but I am going to stand behind my athletic director here," Wilhite said. "Unless something comes to us for a vote, we will not vote on nothing in public."

Wilhite also rebuked the claims that board members had pushed Wade into making a decision, saying, "We did not browbeat him like it was said earlier, that is just flat wrong."

Glauner then pleaded with another board member, Tom Clutter, asking his opinion on the matter. Clutter essentially repeated Wilhite's answer.

Then, Bob "Tank" Runyon, long-time assistant under renowned football coach John DiPietro, chimed in and directed a question toward Clutter.

"How many coaches have you fired in the last 20 years?" Runyon asked.

"Too many," Clutter answered.

"And you still haven't gotten it right," Runyon replied.

"That's true," Clutter said.

The remainder of the meeting went on as scheduled and almost every winter sports coach saw his or her position renewed for another year.